Mesa, AZ – As home construction ramps up at Hawes Crossing, a major mixed-use development is moving forward at the heart of the 1,100-acre master-planned community in southeast Mesa.
The 11.6-acre project, led by Las Vegas-based Fore Property Company, will combine more than 200 multifamily apartments with 20,000 square feet of retail space. While the center does not yet have a formal name, it’s already “permit ready,” according to Jeff Kern, partner and Arizona Development Director at Fore Property. He added the firm is securing financing with plans to break ground in early 2026.
“The retail element is the biggest missing piece in Hawes Crossing and along much of the Elliot Road corridor,” Kern explained. “With so many jobs and large employers nearby, there’s strong demand from residents for shopping and dining options.”
Fore Property, a vertically integrated firm specializing in development, construction, and property management, has not yet finalized the land purchase but anticipates closing before year’s end. The site will sit at the planned intersection of East Elliot Road and 82nd Street, an extension currently being built as part of Lennar Corp.’s residential project in the community.
Kern described the site as the “heartbeat” of Hawes Crossing. Once fully complete, the area is expected to include over 2,000 single-family homes, 1,500 multifamily units, and more than 5,000 residents. With three corners of the new intersection slated for mixed-use projects, the spot is projected to become the retail and entertainment hub of the community.
Retail with a Local Flavor
Roughly six acres of the mixed-use site will be devoted to 233 apartment units ranging from studios to two-bedrooms. The remainder will feature retail offerings, about 30% of which are already leased. Tenants include an Italian restaurant and a neighborhood services operator.
Unlike traditional shopping centers anchored by national chains, Kern says this project is aimed at “unique, locally driven concepts” that will give the hub a neighborhood-focused atmosphere. “We see demand for businesses with a local identity rather than big-box stores,” he noted.
The development represents an estimated $75 million investment, covering land costs and construction.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Hawes Crossing, High Street Residential, a division of Trammell Crow Co., is building the Hawes Crossing Apartments. That $92 million effort ranks among the 20 largest construction projects in metro Phoenix and is scheduled for completion by summer 2026.
